Chapter 4: The Bloodmoon Pact
The moon was red that night.
The wind carried the scent of blood and wet earth.
Elias walked across the dark marshlands with Lyra behind him, her nine tails flickering dimly in the mist.
They had slain an army of corrupted knights two days ago word of the Tamer of S-Rank Beasts was already spreading across the frontier.
"Master," Lyra murmured, her crimson eyes scanning the fog. "This land… it's cursed. The monsters here don't fear death they crave it."
Elias smirked. "Perfect. That means we're close."
He could feel it a presence darker than any demon he had ever faced before.
The marsh trembled. The air grew cold.
> [Detected: S-Rank Entity "Bloodmoon Beast Queen"]
A silhouette stepped out of the crimson mist tall, elegant, draped in a cloak of black feathers. Her silver hair shimmered under the blood-red light. Her eyes gleamed violet, cold and ancient.
> "You've come far, human," she whispered, her voice smooth as silk. "Few dare enter my domain and live to tell of it."
Elias rested his sword on his shoulder. "I'm not here to live. I'm here to recruit."
A slow smile curved her lips, showing a hint of fangs.
> "Recruit? You wish to tame me?"
"No," Elias said calmly. "I wish to make you mine."
Her laughter echoed through the marsh haunting, powerful.
Then, the mist exploded as thousands of black bats formed around her, swirling like a storm. Her power cracked the sky.
> [Bloodmoon Domain Activated]
The world turned crimson. Lyra's flames sputtered, struggling against the darkness.
> "Master, she's too strong!"
"So was death," Elias said, his eyes glowing gold. "And I've already conquered that."
He spread his arms as the Beast Crest burned bright on his chest. Chains of divine light erupted from the ground, wrapping around the queen's ankles, wrists, wings yet she shattered them instantly.
> "You think chains can bind a queen?" she hissed.
"No," Elias said with a grin, "but a bond can."
He pressed his bleeding palm to the marsh. His blood glowed, fusing with her domain.
The crest changed color from gold to crimson-black.
> [New Subskill Unlocked: Blood Pact Allows merging mana through shared pain and desire.]
The Bloodmoon Queen froze mid-air, her power surging uncontrollably.
Images of her lonely existence flashed before her centuries of solitude, betrayal by humans and monsters alike.
Elias's voice echoed in her mind:
> "Join me. Not as a pet… but as my vengeance."
When the light faded, she knelt before him pale, trembling, her eyes burning with newfound loyalty.
> "You… are no ordinary mortal," she whispered.
"You're right," Elias replied, his smile cold. "I'm the man death couldn't keep."
> [Beast Tamed: Bloodmoon Beast Queen S-Rank (Vampire / Shadow Type)]